Are you alone?

Aurora woke up one morning feeling a bit tired. She just came back from her university in Toronto and graduated from her business management course. College was hell, but she was able to concentrate there without any distractions. She drove home yesterday as her mother was desperate to see her and congratulate her and they spent the last dinner eating and drinking and bonding with her family.

She drove home yesterday as her mother was desperate to see her and congratulate her and they spent the last dinner eating and drinking and bonding with her family.

Everything was already perfect in her life, except for one thing. One thing.

As she woke up today, she felt something was off so she went to the bathroom to shower but stopped when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

Black pentel pen marks were all over her face, and she knew exactly who drew them to her.

Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes to calm herself down but couldn’t, and prepared her voice to yell out loudly, “Isaac! Isaiah!”

She yelled her twin brother’s names, and it didn’t take long for one of the twins to burst the door open, laughing at her face.

Aurora glared at her, “Isaac!”

Just then, the other twin came with a grumpy look, holding a book and glaring at her, “What? You keep on mixing our names up,” He said and pointed at his brother who was snickering mischievously, “It’s Isaiah who drew that face! I was just reading in my room, Aury.”

Aurora turned to Isaiah, “Is that true?”

Isaiah scoffed and shook his head, “Oh c’mon, you helped me get the pen so it’s both our fault, Isaac.”

Aurora just shook her head at her siblings. She has been away from college for years, only coming back to celebrate Christmas and New YEars and she wasn’t exactly there when the two grow up. So until now, she has been mixing their names and couldn’t exactly identify who’s who with how similar their faces are.

The only thing that’s different for them is their personality. Isaac is somewhat the obedient one, the nerdy and bookish type which she could tolerate and order sometimes but the other one, Isaiah, is the leader of the mischief who did nothing but prank them.

Both of them are now five years old, and Aurora couldn’t help but smile at how adorable her brothers grew up. They look like the boy version of their mom with their blue eyes and fluffy ginger hair, skin pale like her mom. How fast time flies…She could still remember the time when they just came into the world and how her father fainted on the floor knowing he’ll have twins, until now, the memory is so vivid that she couldn't help but laugh at the thought.

Both of her twin brothers were waiting for her reaction, eyes looking up at her innocent and waiting for what punishment she’ll give to them.

Aurora smirked, knowing how to get them to obey her, so she fake sniffed as if hurt, “You know, I just returned and I’m tired and you keep on pranking me. I’m really sad.”

The twins stopped, now looking guilty as Isaiah fumbled on the hem of his shirt. Isaac nodded to his brother and gave him a look, “Look what you did! Say sorry to her!”

“I know, shut up, Isaac.” Isaiah snapped rudely to his twin brother and hesitated to look at her, “We just miss you.”

“You just both keep on making fun of me, I’m your older sister you know, you have to show some respect to me,” Aurora said childishly, wanting them to feel guilty. “I might not come back if you keep doing this.” She threatened. Isaiah gulped, and Aurora stopped herself from smiling, knowing her plan was working.

Isaiah slowly went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he could only reach it. Aurora leaned down and hugged him and motioned Isaac to come. Isaac sighed and did as she was told.

“Now are you both going to be both good boys now?” She asked them calmly, and Isaac nodded.

Smiling in victory, she patted their heads and they both now ran away from her, embarrassed.

Aurora then returned back to the bathroom to wash her face and do her morning routine before getting dressed in her cute hello kitty pajamas and going downstairs to eat.

She spotted her mother’s back figure as she sliced something on the chopping board. Beside her was someone she saw for some time now...It was Aunt Hira, Uncle Wave’s wife.

“Hi, mom.” Aurora greeted and made her way to both of them, smiling at Aunt Hira, “Hey Aunt Hira, it has been a while since I last saw you.”

Aunt Hira smiled, pinching her cheek, “I can’t believe you’re this big now, haha, many things happened so our schedule is in conflict, I’m glad we went to your place now.”

Her mom, Isleen smiled at Aunt Hira, “Oh, you’re always welcome, Isleen. You know that,”

Aunt Hira chuckled and nodded, “Awe you really love me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Her mother rolled her eyes sarcastically and kissed Aurora on the cheek, “How’s last night dear? Did you sleep well?”

She nodded, “Yes ma'am, I slept like a baby.” It feels nice, eating together like this again, together with her friend and family. It’s like they returned back to normal and how they used to be despite everything that ever happened.

And she doesn't even want to let go of this situation. She doesn't want anything else except to stay right at this moment. Happy, laughing, and content in life.

Not until a storm comes again…

That was what happened for the first few months, not until Aurora decided to go out of her comfort zone and explore the world. She started traveling around, from the sands of Saudi Arabia to the Eiffel tower in Paris, to the polar bears in the North Pole, and to the hidden outskirts of Afghanistan.

She almost went everywhere in a whole two years until she finally got tired and decided to rest out in Russia, where her father was found clubbing before she was even born. And she doesn’t blame her dad for that as the country just gives her a feeling of drunkenness. It’s surely a country of pleasure… where she could lower her guard and get lost in the beat.

The sound of loud music booming in the background and the taste of tequila on her lips makes her world a bit hazy but exciting. Gone was the goody two-shoes Aurora who only listens to her parents. This time it's a whole new version of hers. She almost experienced anything anyways. She felt like she matured over the past years.

She’s actually in the famous club in Russia now, well, her parents only knew that she was in Europe, not in a club…she chose to not say it to them knowing her father had lots of strong connections and it would take a few more minutes for her father to find out that she’s here… but she doesn’t care anymore.

“Hey, miss.” Said a guy in Russian in front of her, earning her attention. She offered a small smile and continued drinking, getting used to being flirted on. She only arrived an hour ago but there were a total of ten men who approached her.

She smirked, of course, men are weak against beautiful women. And that’s her, she knows full well what she’s capable of.

“Let me buy you a drink.” The guy offered as if she’s not rich enough to afford one. She’s sure that she could even buy this whole guy’s life, and her inner feminism wanted to fight back but she fought the urge.

Instead, she nodded. “Go ahead.” The stranger then smiled and sat beside her, eyeing her with a hungry stare. He surely has his looks, but he’s obviously a womanizer. But, it’s better to have company than be alone tonight.

The man then cleared his throat and offered his hand, “I’m Ian, by the way.”

“I’m Maria.” She lied, not wanting to reveal her identity.

“What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman like you.” She grimaced at that, hearing that overused line for a million times now. Can’t they be creative and think of another pickup line? Men really have the same brain cells.

The man then inched closer, starting to make his move. “So…you alone?”